For their Showcase School Project for the 2013 Mayor’s Environment Expo, the grade eight students identified a risk and turned it into an opportunity to reduce their school’s footprint.

Every morning, the streets are crowded with vehicles from parents dropping their children off at school. The leadership group saw an opportunity to make it safer for students to cross the road by decreasing the amount of traffic. At the same time, the decrease in traffic would decrease the amount of CO2 in the air from idling vehicles.

The result was a five week green commuting challenge targeted at the whole school. The prize – a chance to win one of two brand new bikes.

137 students registered for the challenge. And some even challenged their parents at home to green commute – even if it was just to the grocery store.

“The project has reduced traffic outside the school and has taught students the importance of alternative transportation methods,” says teacher, Debbie Rheinstein. “The green commuting challenge has also encouraged more daily exercise.”

Join us at the 2013 Mayor’s Environment Expo, June 4-6 at the Municipal Building and be inspired by today’s youth leaders.

Read about what other showcase schools are doing to protect land, air and water.

The Mayor’s Environment Expo thanks Encana and Calgary Transit for their partnership in the Showcase School program. Encana is sponsoring a $250 grant exclusive to the Showcase Schools. Calgary Transit is providing Showcase Schools with free transportation to and from the Expo.